SANDING Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

sanding

verb

present participle of sand

as in rubbing

to make smooth by friction painstakingly sanded down the wooden floors of the old house

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sanding Before planting any hibiscus seeds, start by nicking or sanding the seeds using fine-grade sandpaper or the tip of a knife. — Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026 The rooms All Volcanoes lodges are hand-built and use no machinery (apart from sanding) by their team of builders, carpenters, welders, and fundi/artisans, from the papyrus roof to the bedside lamps. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 July 2026 Prep the Wood Prep the wood for stain by stripping and sanding any existing paint, coating, or sealant that could hinder the stain’s penetration. — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2026 Roughly a month before Kirk’s killing, Twiggs said Robinson asked for a Dremel, a tool used for sanding or grinding, to engrave bullets for an upcoming family hunting trip. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 July 2026 Rather than using a standard stonewash, TacticalGeek says the blade is hand-finished with sanding and polishing steps that refine the surface from coarse to fine, while the groove area uses EDM machining for extra texture and visual depth. — New Atlas, 9 July 2026 Their work included sanding the benches along the Naperville Riverwalk. — Evgenia Anastasakos, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 During a walk-through for reporters on Thursday, construction noises — particularly sanding and hammering — could be heard. — ABC News, 11 June 2026 Then sanding, priming, spraying back at my own shop to create numerous avatars of her including a male trixter hero version named the ‘Frozen Charlatan’ who is the chrome metallic alter ego. — Chris Willman, Variety, 9 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanding

Verb

For someone with a flexible foot or a narrow forefoot where the toes tend to crowd each other, separating the big toe from the second toe can reduce rubbing and irritation.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
The forward has also trademarked his nickname ‘Cold Palmer’, a nod to his celebration, crossing and rubbing his arms as though to warm himself up.

— Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of rubbing

Verb

Live Edit, Video Capture, and Formats Snap Pro 26 continues to build on past iterations' strengths by keeping what worked and further polishing it.

— Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
Founders often spend too much time polishing the story when skeptical early adopters are looking for evidence of execution.

— Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of polishing

Verb

Kruz and Josie catch the guy’s eye on the dance floor and invite him to join their impromptu grinding session, which is also when Joe catches the pair touching in a way that suggests relationship-level familiarity.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2026
But almost all beef that is meant to be used for grinding beef, which comes from Australia or Brazil, is frozen, and a large portion of that goes to food service operations, mostly fast food companies.

— Dan Mangan,Pippa Stevens, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of grinding

Verb

At risk from these reductions is the peace of mind that taxpayers are indeed filing their taxes correctly every year as systems become more strained, O’Donnell noted.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
But Azerbaijan has gone a step farther, filing a defamation suit against CNN in Delaware last week.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of filing

Verb

The Sun conjoins Mercury in Virgo and your 1st House of Self, sharpening your voice, presence, choices, and personal direction.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Truist focused on growth Truist has been sharpening its strategic focus on growth and performance.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of sharpening

Browse Nearby Words

sandglasses

sanding

sandpaper

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“Sanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanding. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of sanding

verb

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